Reports indicate a significant rise in measles cases in the United States, coinciding with the holiday travel season. As millions prepare to travel, health officials are expressing concern over the potential for further spread of this highly contagious disease.
Utah County health officials recently confirmed six additional measles cases among children aged 18 and under, bringing the state’s total to 142 this year. Notably, there were no recorded cases in 2024 and just one in 2023. Alarmingly, 15 cases emerged in just the past week. Of those infected, 127 were unvaccinated, eight were vaccinated, and the vaccination status of seven individuals remains unknown. Among the cases, 85 involve patients under 18 years old, while 57 are adults. This year has also seen 14 hospitalizations due to the disease.
The current outbreak marks a troubling resurgence of measles, which was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1,958 Americans have contracted measles in 2025, resulting in three deaths. This figure represents the largest outbreak since 1992, when 2,126 cases were documented.
Jodie Guest, senior vice chair of epidemiology at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, emphasized the virus’s ability to spread across state lines, stating, “This is an incredibly transmissible virus. In our populations that are unvaccinated, we need to be very concerned.”
With millions traveling this holiday season, the risk of exposure increases significantly. Guest advised travelers to inquire about potential measles exposure if hosting or visiting areas with active outbreaks. She reassured vaccinated individuals that they are unlikely to contract measles through exposure. Conversely, she warned those unvaccinated or traveling to high-risk areas to take extra precautions.
Connecticut recently reported its first measles case since 2021, while South Carolina has also recorded 142 cases, compared to just one in 2024. In Arizona, the situation has escalated from five cases last year to 182 this year, prompting over 250 individuals to be quarantined due to potential exposure.
Dr. Renee Dua, a medical advisor at TenDollarTelehealth, stated that the current outbreaks are a direct result of declining childhood vaccination rates. The CDC indicates that measles requires approximately 95 percent community immunity to prevent widespread transmission. Currently, the national vaccination rate for the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine stands at 92.5 percent, while Utah’s rate is only 89 percent for kindergartners in the 2023-2024 school year. South Carolina and Arizona report similar vaccination rates of 92 percent and 89 percent, respectively.
Dua elaborated on the consequences of these declining rates, noting, “We are seeing real consequences: preventable outbreaks, hospitalizations, and deaths from diseases that were previously well controlled.” She highlighted the importance of restoring public trust in vaccines through clear, fact-based communication.
Measles is recognized as the world’s most infectious disease. Individuals who are unvaccinated face a 90 percent likelihood of contracting the virus upon exposure, even from shared airspace. The risks associated with measles are severe, with three in 1,000 infections resulting in death.
Current data reveals that among the reported cases, 512 are in individuals under five years old, 808 in those aged 5 to 19, and 625 among adults aged 20 and older. The CDC reports that 93 percent of cases involve unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status. Additionally, 222 patients, approximately 11 percent of those infected, have required hospitalization, with a concerning 20 percent being children under five.
Measles typically presents with flu-like symptoms and a characteristic rash that begins on the face and spreads throughout the body. In severe cases, it can lead to complications such as pneumonia, seizures, and brain inflammation. Patients are contagious from four days before the rash appears until four days after. Before the introduction of the current two-dose vaccine in 1968, measles caused up to 500 deaths annually in the U.S., with millions infected each year.
As holiday travel ramps up, health officials urge the public to prioritize vaccination and remain vigilant about the risks associated with measles.
